By Elizabeth Olson (NYT)

Published: March 23, 2002

The world's largest cargo inspector, Société Générale de Surveillance Holding, posted a $45 million loss last year, its second in recent years. The group, based in Geneva, took an extraordinary charge of $108 million to cover outstanding bills at a unit that inspects goods for governments. Société Générale, which performs customs inspections in two dozen countries worldwide, said it might sell one unit to return to profitability. It is negotiating with governments in the Philippines and Ivory Coast to recover about $240 million in unpaid fees. Elizabeth Olson (NYT)